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Do Lutherans believe in the body of Christ or the spirit of Christ?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
I'm not sure, if i understood you correctly, but i guess that you mean divine and human nature of Christ.
Body and spirit is not proper description, because you have them too.
Following answer is free inscription of my thoughts about the given issue, so forgive me structure. Separate sections are separate informations, that can help you.
If you ask what Lutherans believe in (about Christ) You must know, that Lutherans and other denominations from XVI century (reformation) saved previous teachings about nature of Christ, decreed on Chalcedonian Council in 451 AD. That means, they believe the same about Christ as catholics: that Jesus Christ is real God and real man, with two natures and one person.
Word person is needed because of other heresies concerning that also persons of Son of God (2nd person of Trinity) and Jesus of Nazareth are separate ones.
Council was called because of heresies that denied divinity or humanity of Christ at all. There were movements that said Christ was god looking like man, or man that made miracles, because God helped mu, but He alone wasn't the God.
Not to dive into philosophy I just mention one thing - each being can be describe by it's nature. Say that cat has feline nature and you already have in mind feline properties - fur, milk and so on. Dog has canine nature, and you mind barking, running after cars, doghouse in a yard and so on. It's more complex than I described it, but never mind. To make a point:
Jesus Christ is the only being that has two natures - divine and human. It allows him to have properties of god (infinite, immortal, incorporeal, omniscent and omnipotent) and man(finite, mortal, corporeal, needs to learn, eat and sleep). This allowed God himself to sacrifice for mankind on cross. Catholic liturgy says that "our own mortality became a tool of salvation" (from catholic Mass). Because as God Christ couldn't die, so taking our own limitations allowed him to do so. Only his own sacrifice could redeem us. No animals or even man sacrifices could be enough.
Imagine sacrificing the God... you can't, but this happened.
Christ has corporeal body and a spiritual immortal soul, as you do, but he also has a divine nature. You can worship both human and divine nature of Christ, because they are one in him. This allows things like devotion to Heart of Jesus, or devotion to the Child Jesus, and some more. Furthermore this allows to worship image of God, what is rejected by Jehova witnesses, Muslims and Jews as idolatry. God became man for us, so that we could see him.
There are also denominations timing back to fifth century, that rejected decrees of that Council (like Ethiopian Monophysites).
I hope that's enough, i also hope to meet your expectations concerning the matter of answer.
To conclude I give you modern English translation of Council documents found on wikisource. This is what believe catholic, orthodox, protestants and most of christian denominations (excluding Mormons and Jehova witnesses). They still have 1500 years, so mind the language:
We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach people to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood;truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body;consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood;in all things like unto us, without sin;begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood;one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably;the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten God, the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ;as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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How long do Lutherans believe Eucharist remains Jesus' body and blood?
Answer: Some Lutherans believe that Christ remains present in the Eucharist so long as the assembly is gathered. In other words, once the congregation has left, Christ is no longer present in the consecrated bread and wine. Other (more traditional, Catholic-leaning) Lutherans believe that Christ remains present after the congregation leaves and even reserve the Eucharist (as do Catholics and Orthodox) to be taken to those who are homebound. Catholics believe that Christ is present when the congregation leaves, and the Eucharist is treated with great reverence. The Catholic Church teaches that the presence of Christ remains so long as the consecrated bread remains bread; once it has deteriorated Christ is no longer present.
With whom are you united when you receive Holy Communion?
You receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. As Catholics we believe that there is the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, that it is his body, blood, soul, and divinity.
Do Mormons believe that the spirit is immortal and never dies?
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) believe that the spirit of each person is eternal - it never dies. The spirit is what gives a body life and consciousness. Mormons believe your spirit lived in heaven with God before being placed into your body for life on earth. When you die, your spirit will return to heaven and your body will remain here on earth. After the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, our spirits will be reunited with our bodies (resurrected) and together be made immortal. In addition, Mormons also believe in The Holy Spirit (sometimes called the Spirit or the Holy Ghost). The Holy Spirit is the third member of the Godhead and is immortal and eternal. Check out the "Related Links" below for more information about what Mormons believe about the spirit of man and the Holy Spirit.
Why the church called the body of Christ but not Jesus?
Because Jesus is flesh and Christ is spirit
What are some similarities and differences between CatholicandLutheran churches?
Both Lutherans and Catholics believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation (the wafer and wine literally become the blood and body of Christ); both follow a bishop, deacon, priest hierarchy; both teach original sin as well as infant baptism; and both share a history from the first century Christian church to the 1500's. There are two major differences between them, however. Catholics believe in salvation via faith and good works, whereas Lutherans believe in salvation through faith alone. Catholics also believe that the Pope is God's emissary here on earth, whereas Lutherans believe that Christ is the only mediator before God that the Church has.
Can you have the holy spirit with you but not in you?
No, when you accept Jesus Christ, you get the Holy Spirit inside of you thus, your body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. You cannot have the Holy Spirit with you, just in you. When you sin, and you have accepted Jesus Christ, you feel bad because the Holy Spirit inside of you is sad because you sinned. The Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is the Father, God. They are one.
What is the difference in belief in the Eucharist between the Catholic the Episcopal the Presbyterians and other Protestant denominations?
The theological differences between different denominations is great... the meaning probably can be said to be the same. The Eucharist is believed to be the Body of Christ. Theologically the means whereby this comes about is: Catholics believe in transubstantiation Lutherans: consubstantiation Episcopals "transignification"; Calvin... a mystery. For all: "The Body of Christ"
How is the nature of church like the nature of christ?
The true church is the Bride and body of Christ and has been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has given the "Fruit of the Spirit" to Jesus' followers, which make them to be like Jesus
Does Christianity have a temple?
No. Christians believe that their body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God gives his Holy Spirit to all who believe.
Why is the altar not as important to protestants as it is to catholics?
Catholics are especially reverent toward the altar because it is where the process of transubstantiation takes place. Transubstantiation is the process in which the gifts of bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ though the Holy Spirit. Protestants do not believe in transubstantiation. Instead, Protestants believe that the bread and wine are symbols for Christ's body and blood.
What group believed that Jesus was human and Christ was a spirit?
Gnostics. They believed the body was always evil and only spirit could be good.
How is one saved in the luthern church?
The Lutheran Church believes in salvation for all those who are baptised and believe on the name of Jesus Christ. They believe in salvation by faith, not by works.In a nutshell, Lutherans use the Apostles Creed to state their beliefs:"I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead*. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."*or hell**or universalELCA statement of beliefs: http:/www.elca.org/What-We-Believe/Statements-of-Belief.aspx
